Transport and display packaging assembly

ABSTRACT

A packaging assembly for transporting, storing and displaying containers includes a merchandising feature that facilitates moving containers toward a display opening of the tray as the front container is removed by a customer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to packaging for transporting, storing and displaying containers.

Small food or beverage containers are currently shipped to stores in boxes. The containers are removed from the boxes and manually arranged on refrigerator shelves for display to customers. Customers select one or more of the containers positioned at the front of the shelf. Store workers manually rearrange the containers periodically to move the remaining containers to the front of the shelf to make them more visible and accessible to customers and to facilitate first in first out inventory management.

Manually unloading the containers onto the store shelves and periodically shifting all of the rows of the containers forward is time-consuming. The current boxes are discarded and not reused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a reusable packaging assembly for transporting, storing and displaying containers, which includes a merchandising feature that facilitates moving containers toward a display opening of the packaging as the front container is removed by a customer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view a packaging assembly according to one example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a front view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1, with the front portion closed;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1 in a stacked configuration with a similar packaging assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 5 with the front portion closed;

FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 5 in a stacked configuration with similar packaging assemblies;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention in a stacked configuration with a similar packaging assembly;

FIG. 10A is a sectional side view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 9 with the spring assembly in a fully loaded position;

FIG. 10B is a view similar to FIG. 10A with the spring assembly in the unloaded position;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 9 in a stacked configuration with two similar packaging assemblies;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 12 taken along line A-A with the side flaps in an extended, support position;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a release button of the packaging assembly of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 14, with the side wall broken away;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side view of a plurality of packaging assemblies of FIG. 17 in a stacked configuration on a shelf;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an end view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 19 in a stacked configuration with a similar packaging assembly;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the tray of the packaging assembly of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the tray of the packaging assembly of FIG. 19 in a stacked configuration with a similar tray;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the tray of FIG. 19 in a nested configuration with a similar tray; and

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 19 including an alternate rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A packaging assembly 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The packaging assembly 10 includes a box 12 and a front portion 14 pivotably attached to the box 12. The box 12 includes a top portion 16, a bottom portion 18, an end portion 20 and a pair of opposing side portions 22 extending upward from the bottom portion 18 of the box 12. The top portion 16, the bottom portion 18 and the pair of opposing side portions 22 define an interior space in which containers 24 are placed.

The front portion 14 includes a recess 27 on an interior surface and is pivotably connected to the side portions 22 at pivot axis 26. The front portion 14 of the packaging assembly 10 is pivotable from an open position to a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the open position, the front portion 14 is pivoted downward about the pivot axis 26 to provide access to the containers 24. In the open position, customers have access to view and select containers for purchase. Also, an advertising space 32 (FIGS. 1 and 3), which extends downward from the top portion 16 of the box 12, is exposed when the front portion 14 is pivoted to the open position.

In the closed position, the front portion 14 is pivoted upward about the pivot axis 26. As shown in FIG. 2A, the exterior of the front portion 14 includes a handle 34 extending partially over an adjacent recess 36.

Referring to FIG. 3, the top portion 16 of the box 12 includes at least one rib 28 extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the top portion 16 and at least one groove 30 extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the bottom portion 18, corresponding to the at least one rib 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a similar packaging assembly 10′ is stackable upon the packaging assembly 10 such that the at least one rib 28 of the lower packaging assembly 10 engages the at least one groove 30′ of the upper packaging assembly 10′.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the containers 24 are placed horizontally within the interior space of the packaging assembly 10 in an alternating arrangement, i.e. the containers 24 are placed on their sides, with a bottom row of containers 24 having tops facing and substantially parallel to one of the opposing side portions 22 of the box 12 and a top row of containers 24 having tops facing and substantially parallel to the other of the opposing side portions 22 of the box 12.

In use, the packaging assembly 10 is shipped to a store full of containers 24 (such as yogurt containers). The packaging assembly 10 can be carried by the handle 34 and by a similar handle (not shown) molded into the end portion 20. The packaging assembly 10 can be placed directly onto a shelf, such as a shelf in a refrigerated section of the store, and similar packaging assemblies 10′ can be stacked on the packaging assembly 10. On the shelf, the front portion 24 is opened so that customers can view and remove the containers 24. When the packaging assembly 10 is empty, it can be returned to the warehouse or manufacturer to be reused.

A packaging assembly 10A according to an alternate version of the first embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. In the packaging assembly 10A, the containers 24 are placed vertically within the interior space of the packaging assembly 10A and arranged side-by-side. The packaging assembly 10A includes a box 12A and a front portion 14A pivotably attached to the box 12A. The box 12A includes a top portion 16A, a bottom portion 18A, an end portion 20A and a pair of opposing side portions 22A extending upward from the bottom portion 18A of the box 12A. The interior surface of the front portion 14A includes a recess 27A into which the containers 24 can be slid during removal. The recess 27A is partially defined by a wall 29A ramped upwardly toward the outer end of the front portion 14A (in the open position).

Referring to FIG. 6, the front portion 14A includes a handle 34A defined adjacent an exterior recess 36A. As shown in FIG. 7, the top portion 16A includes a pair of ribs 28A in alignment with a complementary pair of grooves 30A in a bottom portion 18A. Several stacks of packaging assemblies 10A, 10A′ are supported on a store shelf in FIG. 8.

A packaging assembly 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9. The packaging assembly 110 generally includes a box 112 and a cylindrical portion 116 disposed within the box 112, although the box 112 and cylindrical portion 116 are integrally molded together in left and right halves which are snap-fit, welded or glued together.

The box 112 includes a front portion 114, a bottom portion 118, a rear portion 120 and a pair of opposing side portions 122 extending upward from the bottom portion 118.

The cylindrical portion 116 is disposed within the pair of opposing side portions 122 and extends from the rear portion 120 to the front portion 114. An opening 125 is disposed in the cylindrical portion 116, proximate to the front portion 114 of the box 112.

An arched opening 119 is formed at a lower edge of the front portion 114. The arched opening 119 leads to a cavity 121, shown in FIG. 10A, below the cylindrical portion 116.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a spring mechanism 150 may be disposed within the cylindrical portion 116, proximate to the rear portion 120 of the box 112. The spring mechanism 150 includes a spring 152 and a slide 154. The slide 154 is contained within the cylindrical portion 116 and the spring 152 is contained within the slide 154 with a spring extension portion 156 extending along an interior of the cylindrical portion 116. The slide 154 includes an engagement surface 158, which interacts with containers 124 to move the containers 124 within the cylindrical portion 116 toward the opening 125 located near the front portion of the box 112.

The spring mechanism 150 moves from a fully loaded position, illustrated in FIG. 10A, to an unloaded position, illustrated in FIG. 10B, as containers 124 are removed from the opening 125, i.e. the spring 152 is operable to move the slide 154 along a plane substantially parallel to the bottom portion 118 as the spring mechanism 150 moves from the fully loaded position to the unloaded position.

As containers 124 are inserted into the packaging assembly 110 through the opening 125 the spring mechanism 150 moves toward the fully loaded position. Conversely, as containers 124 are removed from the packaging assembly 110 through the opening 125 the spring mechanism 150 moves toward the unloaded position, thus moving the containers 24 to a position adjacent the opening 125.

As shown in FIG. 9, the packaging assembly 110 can be stacked on a similar packaging assembly 110′. The cylindrical portion 116′ of the lower packaging assembly 110′ is received in the opening 119 in the front portion 114 and in the cavity 121 (FIG. 10A) of the upper packaging assembly 110. Referring to FIG. 11, another packaging assembly 110″ could be stacked on top of the packaging assembly 110 in a similar manner. By staggering the packaging assemblies 110, 110′, 110″ as shown, access to all of the containers 24 through the three openings 125, 125′, 125″ is provided.

A packaging assembly 210 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12.

The packaging assembly 210 includes a tray 212 having a wall portion 214 extending upwardly from a periphery of a bottom portion 216. A pair of opposing wedge-shaped side flaps 220 extend along opposing sides of the wall portion 214 of the tray 212.

The tray 212 further includes a support lip 213 along an upper edge of the wall portion 214 and an open access 215 located at a front end of the packaging assembly 210.

Each of the pair of opposing side flaps 220 is integrally molded with the tray 212 and connected to the tray 212 by a living hinge 222. Each side flap 220 is moveable between an extended, support position and a folded position. In the support position, it extends downward, where it supports the tray 212 at an incline on a shelf or another, similar loaded packaging assembly. This moves the containers 224 toward the front of the packaging assembly 210 and the access 215. In the folded position against the tray 212 (shown in phantom in FIG. 13), the packaging assembly 210 can be nested within another similar empty packaging assembly, so that it can be shipped back to the warehouse more efficiently.

The support lip 213 provides support for the containers 224 and the containers 224 slide down the incline along the support lip 213 toward the access cut-out 215 for removal by a customer for purchase. As shown in FIG. 13, the containers 224 are supported by their lids on the support lip 213.

A packaging assembly 310 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 14-16.

The packaging assembly 310 includes a base 312 and at least one cartridge 314. The cartridge 314 is stackable upon the base 312 and slideably engaged with the base 312. In the example shown, a similar cartridge 314′ is stacked upon and slideably engaged with the cartridge 314.

Each of the base 312, the cartridge 314 and the similar cartridge 314′ includes a top portion 316, a bottom portion 318, opposing side portions 320, a rear portion 322 and a front portion 323. The opposing side portions 320 extend between the top portion 316 and the bottom portion 318. Each front portion includes a display opening 326, although preferably, the display opening 326 of the base 312 is much larger than those on the cartridge trays 314, 314′.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 15, each of the base 312, the cartridge 314 and the similar cartridge 314′ includes a release latch button 330 that releasably secures another tray above it.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the containers 324 are visible in each of the display openings 326 of the base 312 and the cartridge 314 and accessible to a customer for removal through the display opening 326 of the base 312.

The bottom portions 318, 318′ of the cartridge packaging assemblies 314, 314′ are inclined at an angle θ with respect to horizontal while the bottom portion 318 of the base packaging assembly 312 is declined at the same angle θ.

As containers 324 are removed though the display opening 326 of the base 312, containers 324 contained within the cartridge 314 and the similar cartridge 314′ slide along their respective bottom portions 318, 318′ toward a container supply opening 332, 332′ formed in each respective bottom portion 318, 318′.

The containers 324 slide through the container supply openings 332, 322′ and into a container receiving opening 334 formed in the top portion 316 of the base 312. The containers 324 then slide along the declined bottom surface 318 of the base packaging assembly 312 toward the display opening 326 in the base packaging assembly 312 for removal by a customer.

A packaging assembly 410 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 17. The packaging assembly 410 includes a box 412 and a removable front face 414. The box 412 includes a rear portion 416, a front portion 418, a bottom portion 420, a top portion 422 and a pair of opposing side portions 424.

The bottom portion 420 includes a lower surface 420A and an upper surface 420B. The lower surface 420A of the bottom portion extends substantially horizontally between the rear portion 416 and the front portion 418. The upper surface 420B of the bottom portion 420 also extends between the rear portion 416 and the front portion 418 but the upper surface 420B declines as it extends from the rear portion 416 to the front portion 418.

The front portion 418 includes an advertising space 426 and a display opening 428 is formed at an intersection of the front portion 418 and the top portion 422. Product advertisements are placed within the advertising space 426 and containers are displayed for purchase within the display opening 428.

Containers 424 are positioned within the box 412 and visible within the display opening 428. The removable front face 414 is removably attached to the box 412, covering the display opening 428.

The box 412 also includes at least one rib 430 extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the top portion 422 of the box 412 and at least one groove 432 extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the bottom portion 420 of the box 412. In this example, two ribs 430 and two grooves 432 are shown.

The ribs 430 of the box 412 correspond to the grooves 432′ of a similar box 412′ such that the ribs 430 are received in the grooves 432′ of the similar box 412′ stacked thereon. The stacked boxes 412, 412′ are placed on a shelf 436 for display, as illustrated in FIG. 18.

In the example embodiment, the box 412 is reusable and the front face 414 is disposable. As such, the box 412 is constructed, for example, from plastic and the front face 414 is constructed, for example, from cardboard or styrene. In use, the packaging assemblies 410 would be loaded and shipped to the store, where the front face 414 would be removed and where multiple packaging assemblies 410 could be stacked on a shelf. Customers would remove containers 424 through the open display opening 424. When empty, the packaging assemblies 410 would be returned to the store for reuse.

A packaging assembly 510 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 19. The packaging assembly 510 includes a tray 512 and a rack 514. The rack 514 includes a plurality of legs 520 extending downward from a tray stacking platform 522, each having a recess 521 at a lower end and a complementary interlocking portion 523 protruding upwardly above the platform 522. An inwardly offset protrusion 526 extends upward from the tray stacking platform 522 inwardly adjacent each interlocking portion 523.

Referring to FIG. 20, a similar rack 514′ is stackable upon the rack 514, such that the recesses 521′ of the upper rack 514′ receive the interlocking portions 523 of the lower rack 514, and the legs 520′ of the upper rack 514′ abut the protrusions 526 of the lower rack 514, as illustrated in FIG. 20.

The tray 512 includes a plurality of container support areas 516 and a plurality of stacking support areas 518, as illustrated in FIG. 21. Containers 524 are placed within the container support areas 516 and the tray 512 is stacked upon a tray stacking platform 522 of the rack 514.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the tray 512 is stackable with a similar tray 512′, when containers 526 are positioned within the container support areas 516 of the tray 512. The stacking support areas 518′ of the similar tray 512′ engage tops of the containers 526, which are positioned within the container support areas 516 of the tray 512.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, the tray 512 and the similar tray 512′ are nestable within one another when no containers 526 are present.

Alternatively, the tray 512 is slideably stackable within an alternate rack 550, as illustrated in FIG. 24.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A packaging assembly comprising: a top portion; a bottom portion; an end portion; a pair of opposing side portions extending upward from the bottom portion to the top portion; the top portion, bottom portion and the pair of opposing side portions defining an interior space for storing a plurality of containers; and a front portion pivotably attached to the bottom portion of the tray, the front portion having a recess on an interior surface and a handle on an exterior surface.
 2. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the front portion is pivotable from a closed position, where the front portion acts as a carrying handle for carrying the packaging assembly, to an open position to provide access to the interior space.
 3. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 2, further including an advertising space extending down from the top portion.
 4. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the advertising space is visible when the front portion is in the open position.
 5. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 1, further including a plurality of containers in an alternating arrangement.
 6. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of containers are placed in a horizontal orientation with respect to one another within the interior space.
 7. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the containers roll toward the front portion when the packaging assembly is placed on shelving.
 8. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 1, further including a plurality of containers in a vertical orientation within the interior space
 9. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 1, the top portion having at least one rib extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the top portion, the bottom portion of the packaging assembly having at least one complementary groove extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the bottom portion.
 10. A packaging assembly comprising: a bottom portion; a front portion; a rear portion; a pair of opposing side portions extending upward from the bottom portion; and a cylindrical portion disposed within the pair of opposing side portions, extending from the rear portion to the front portion, having an opening proximate the front portion; and a spring mechanism disposed within the cylindrical portion for moving items toward the opening proximate the front portion.
 11. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 10, the spring mechanism having an engagement surface, wherein the engagement surface is proximate to the front portion of the tray in an unloaded position and proximate to the rear portion of the tray in a fully loaded position.
 12. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the engagement surface moves from the unloaded position to the fully loaded position when items are added to the packaging assembly and from the fully loaded position to the unloaded position as items are removed from the packaging assembly.
 13. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the engagement surface moves in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom portion.
 14. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein items can be added to and removed from the packaging assembly through the opening.
 15. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 10, the bottom portion having a bottom surface and each of the pair of opposing side portions having a stacking surface, wherein the bottom surface of the packaging assembly can be stacked upon the stacking surfaces of a similar packaging assembly.
 16. A packaging assembly comprising: a tray having a bottom portion and a wall portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, about a periphery of the bottom portion; and a pair of opposing side flaps pivotably secured to opposing sides of the wall portion.
 17. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the pair of opposing side flaps are each secured to the wall portion by a living hinge.
 18. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the side flaps have a lower surface that is not parallel to the bottom portion when pivoted downward to a support position.
 19. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the packaging assembly is stackable upon a similar packaging assembly when the side flaps are in the support position.
 20. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 18, further including a plurality of containers having lids supported by an upper edge of the wall portion.
 21. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the packaging assembly is nestable within a similar packaging assembly when the side flaps are pivoted to a folded position against the wall portion.
 22. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the side flaps are wedge shaped.
 23. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 16, the wall portion further including a support lip along an upper edge of the wall portion to support containers within the packaging assembly.
 24. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 16, the wall portion further including an access opening.
 25. A packaging assembly comprising: a base defining an base interior for storing containers; and at least one cartridge defining a cartridge interior for storing containers, the cartridge removably stackable on the base, an opening between the base interior and the cartridge interior permitting containers in the cartridge interior to move into the base interior.
 26. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 25, further including a latch operable to releaseably secure the at least one cartridge to the base.
 27. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 26, the base having a rear portion, a front portion, and a bottom portion extending at a decline from the rear portion to the front portion.
 28. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 27, the at least one cartridge having a rear portion, a front portion, a bottom portion and a top portion each extending between the rear portion and the front portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion of the at least one cartridge are substantially parallel to one another and the bottom portion of the at least one cartridge extends at a decline from the front portion of the at least one cartridge to the rear portion of the at least one cartridge.
 29. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 25, the base and the cartridge each have a display opening, wherein an individual container is removable through the display opening in the base.
 30. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein a bottom portion of the cartridge has a container supply opening and the top portion of the base has a container receiving opening, such that containers slide rearward in the cartridge, down through the container supply opening, into the container receiving opening and forward in the base as the individual containers are removed by the customer.
 31. A packaging assembly comprising: a rear portion; a front portion; a bottom portion having an lower surface extending substantially horizontally between the rear portion and the front portion and an upper surface declining from the rear portion toward the front portion; a top portion extending substantially horizontally between the rear portion and the front portion; and a pair of opposing side wall portions extending upwardly from the bottom portion to the top portion.
 32. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 31, the top portion of the packaging assembly having at least one rib extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the top portion and the bottom portion of the packaging assembly having at least one groove extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the bottom portion, wherein the at least one groove of the packaging assembly receives the at least one rib of a similar packaging assembly when stacked thereon.
 33. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 32, wherein the packaging assembly is slidable relative to the similar packaging assembly when the packaging assembly is stacked thereon.
 34. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 31, the front portion including an advertising space extending upward from the bottom portion.
 35. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 31, further including a display opening formed at an intersection of the front portion and the top portion.
 36. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 35, further including a front face removable to reveal the display opening.
 37. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 36, wherein the packaging assembly is plastic.
 38. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 37, wherein the front face is cardboard.
 39. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 37, wherein the front face is styrene.
 40. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 35, wherein containers slide along the declining upper surface of the bottom portion toward the display opening for removal by a customer.
 41. A packaging assembly comprising: a tray having a plurality of container pockets formed on an upper surface for receiving container bottom portions therein, the tray further including a lower surface having a plurality of recessed stacking support areas for receiving container top portions, wherein the container top portions are larger than the container bottom portions.
 42. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 41, wherein the upper surface includes a plurality of projections extending upward from the upper surface and the lower surface including a plurality of recesses corresponding to the plurality of projections such that the plurality of projections of a first tray are nestable within the recesses of a second tray.
 43. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 42, further including a tray rack having a tray resting surface upon which the tray is placed, the tray rack further including a plurality of legs extending downward from the tray resting surface and aligned with a plurality of protrusions extending upward from the tray resting surface.
 44. The packaging assembly as recited in claim 43, wherein the plurality of legs each include a recess for receiving a corresponding protrusion of a similar tray rack when stacked. 